Electric lamp latch



y 1963 R. c. KEMBER ETAL 3,088,766

ELECTRIC LAMP LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet ,1

Filed Aug. 30, 1960 y 1963 R. c. KEMBER ETAL 3,088,766

ELECTRIC LAMP LATCH Filed Aug. 30, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,083,766 ELECTREQ LAMP LATCH Raymond Charles Kember and George Edward Barker,

London, England, assignors to Thorn Eleciricai industries Limited, London, England, a British company Filed Aug. 30, 1960, Ser. No. 52,836 4 Claims. ((11. 292-209) The present invention relates to electric lamp fittings and is concerned with electric lamp fittings of the type including a main, dished body and a translucent or transparent cover fitted to the body.

For the purpose of holding the two parts of such a fitting in engagement with one another it has been proposed to provide a retaining device in the form of resilient wire bent in such a manner as to form an eye at the bend. The eye is seated over a stud or other projection on the main body of the fitting and one limb of the bent wire retainer engages with the cover. The second limb can be moved from a first position in which the cover is released, to a second position in which the second limb can be engaged over a further projection on the main body of the fitting. When in the second position the two limbs are urged away from one another by the resilience of the wire and this force is used to retain the main body and the cover of the fitting in engagement with one another.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric lamp fitting of the type specified with improved retaining means of simpler construction than the aforesaid proposed retaining means.

According to the present invention in an electric lamp fitting of the type specified for the purpose of enabling the cover to be releasably fitted to the main body a resilient wire is pivotally mounted at one end on the main body and can be positioned with its other end in retaining engagement with a projection on the main body and with an intermediate region of the wire resiliently engaging the cover and urging it into engagement with the main body, the said intermediate region being deformed to facilitate engagement with the cover.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing partly in cross-section of an electric lamp fitting of the type specified;

FIG. 2 shows a part of the fitting of FIG. 1 with a releasable retaining device in its released position;

FIG. 3 shows a retaining device of FIG. 2 in its retaining position, and

FIG. 4 is a part plan view from below showing an engaged retaining device and a hinge for enabling the cover of the fitting of FIG. 1 to be hinged relative to the main body of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1. an electric lamp fitting comprises a main body portion of dish circular shape which carries a connector 11 for an electric lamp together with a refractor 12, and a transparent cover of plastic material 13 mounted on the body portion 10 by means of a hinge 14.

For the purpose of releasably retaining the cover in position against the main body 10 as shown in FIG. 1, two releasable retaining means are provided, one of which is shown at =15 in FIG. 4, the other being positioned diametrically opposite 15 in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the retaining means comprise a resilient wire 15 which is bowed into arcuate shape and is pivoted at one end 16 to the main body 10 of the lamp fitting. Pivoting is effected by bending the end 16 into a loop and engaging the loop over a pin 17 on the main body of the fitting. The other end 18 of the resilient wire :15 is deformed as shown to provide a convenient grip for the finger and thumb when positioning the retaining means either for release or engagement. In FIG. 2 the end 18 is shown out of engagement with a projecting stud 19 also on the main body 10 of the fitting.

Turning now to FIG. 3, this shows the retaining means in its engaged position with the end 13 of the wire 15 in engagement with the stud 19 and a central region urging the cover 13 into engagement with the main body 10 of the fitting. To facilitate engagement of the wire 15 with the rim of the cover 13 in urging the cover into engagement with the main body 10 the central region of the wire 15 which engages with the cover is deformed as shown at 2.1 in FIG. 4 into V-shape with the apex of the V extending towards the cover and the limbs of the V engaging with the rim of the cover which, as will be seen in FIG. 1, is downwardly turned.

The main body in the area of engagement between the cover and the body is provided with a ring 22 (FIG. 1) of cushioning material such as foamed plastic material, and for the purpose of facilitating a close, snug fit between the engaging rim of the cover 13 and the ring of foamed plastic material the hinge 14 is of the kind in which the axis of rotation of the cover is displaced and parallel to the axis of rotation of the main body and the two pivots are interconnected by linking arms such as 23 whereby when the retaining means are released and the cover 13 is allowed to fall out of engagement with the main body the pivot on the cover can fall to the lowermost position shown in broken lines in "FIG. 1. When the cover is lifted into engagement with the main body 10 as shown in FIG. 1 the construction as described of the hinge permits some degree of movement of the cover relative to the seating of the main body whereby a snug fit can be assured.

We claim:

1. An electric lamp fitting comprising a main dished body, a cover for said body, and means to releasably fit said cover to said body, said means comprising a resilient, substantially arcuate wire pivotally mounted at one end on said body and positioned with its other end in retained engagement with said body and with an intermediate region of the wire resiliently engaging said cover and urging it into engagement with said body, said intermediate region being deformed to facilitate engagement thereof with said cover.

2. An electric lamp fitting comprising a main dished body, a cover for said body, and means to releasably fit said cover to said body, said means comprising a resilient, substantially arcuate wire pivotally mounted at one end on said body and positioned with its other end in retained engagement with said body and with an intermediate region being deformed into V-shape to facilitate engagement of the wire with said cover.

3. An electric lamp fitting comprising a main dished body, a cover for said body having a rim directed away from said body, and means to releasably fit said cover to said body, said means comprising a resilient, substantially arcuate wire pivotally mounted at one end on said body and positioned with its other end in retained engagement with said body and with an intermediate region in holding engagement with said rim said intermediate region being deformed to facilitate engagement thereof with said rim.

4. An electric lamp fitting as claimed in claim 3 wherein said deformed intermediate region is of V-shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 782,115 Dyer Feb. 7, 1905 2,449,750 Redmond Sept. 21, 1948 2,728,849 Beber et a1. Dec. 27, 1955 2,916,609 Barohmann et al Dec. 8, 1959 2,923,429 Schneider Feb. 2, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,027,794 Germany Apr. 10, 1958 800,323 Great Britain Aug. 27, 1958 

1. AN ELECTRIC LAMP FITTING COMPRISING A MAIN DISHED BODY, A COVER FOR SAID BODY, AND MEANS TO RELEASABLY FIT SAID COVER TO SAID BODY, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A RESILIENT, SUBSTANTIALLY ARCUATE WIRE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END ON SAID BODY AND POSITIONED WITH ITS OTHER END IN RETAINED ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BODY AND WITH AN INTERMEDIATE REGION OF THE WIRE RESILIENTLY ENGAGING SAID COVER AND URGING IT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BODY, SAID INTERMEDIATE REGION BEING DEFORMED TO FACILITATE ENGAGEMENT THEREOF WITH SAID COVER. 